Female family status during the Late Byzantine period; evidence from MS Parisinus graecus 135

Abstract

Two family dining scenes from the Book of Job, which is preserved in the National Library of France (Paris gr. 135), lend themselves to a brief commentary on gender and family relations in the Despotate of Morea during the 14th-mid 15th century. The two scenes (folios 9v and 18v) are derived from the biblical text and offer a rare – in terms of Byzantine art – “realistic” look on a family gathering. They allow us to distinguish between three categories of women according to their respective roles in the iconographic context. Their garments, posture, interaction with other family members, and duties at the dinner table are all used in the effort to outline the role and status of women, which adds to the broader research on social networks during the Late Byzantine period.